Will French Military Sexual Abuse Scandal Hurt Counterterrorism in Africa?
French soldiers in the Central African Republic are under attack for reports of sexual abuse of the civilians. There have been reports that young boys were forced by French military men to perform oral sex and other sex acts on these men in return for small bits of food, water, and even occasionally cash.
The confidential U.N. report that was leaked includes the detailed testimonies of six children. The children recounted their own experiences and that of several of their friends. One child recalled how a soldier was sexually abusing a friend of his. He stated that the soldier threatened to beat his friend if his friend told anyone what had happened.
The report states that at least 12 children were involved in these horrible crimes. They took place between December 2013 and June 2014 in a displaced persons’ camp at the M’Poko International Airport in Bangui. The report was compiled by UNICEF staff last year, and consequently leaked to the French authorities in late July of 2014.
Outside of C.A.R., France’s counter terrorism leadership in Africa has been crucial to countering AQIM and other groups. In the U.S. French partnership, the U.S. relies heavily on France for their experience and human intelligence capability. The U.S. brings high tech and military capability to the relationship. On April 29th, 2015, the United States increased the financial aid given to French military pursuits in Africa. President Obama ordered the release of 35 million dollars in defense services to help France fight terrorists in Mali, Niger, and Chad. The two major terror groups in those countries are Boko Haram and AQIM, both of which have proven to be significant threats not only in the region, but to the United States as well.
The United States is strategically giving money to France rather than increasing our own presence for several reasons. In northwestern Africa, French is a widely spoken language, giving the French military a linguistic advantage over the U.S. military. They already have cultural and operational ties to the regions and most notably have vast human intelligence networks already firmly established in Africa. Because of this, giving money to the French military may be a smarter move right now, rather than deploying more troops.
The fact that this time, the United States is increasing the funding to 35 million as compared to the 10 million that was ordered in August indicates that the United States is recognizing the threat posed by the terror organizations. The House of Representatives’ Committee on Homeland Security held a hearing on Wednesday the 29th, outlining the threat that several terror organizations in Africa posed domestically and internationally.
Because we are continuing to fight jihadist terror networks in the Middle East, such as the Islamic State, it is important we support the French military’s efforts in Africa. While the disturbing actions of the soldiers in the Central African Republic will likely hurt French-African relations, the French Defense Ministry has released a statement ensuring appropriate actions will be taken to punish all soldiers involved.
